Which manufacture has technically superior movements and which manufacture has better finished movements (say in a normally cased watch)? Both brands are well regarded (well FP is anyway, dunno about BP as brand).

Would you say the same thing about A. Lange and Vacheron or Vacheron and Roger Dubuis? I would have thought that because FP and Lemania were once independent movement manufacturers and because everyone has loved "in-house" since the early 2000s there would be differences.

I would say Bentley and Rolls Royce are completely different (apart from that period when they were using the same platforms, engines, bodies and interiors).

I too prefer Lange, AP, VC, and PP but they are out of my price range...(well I could afford a Saxonia but that watch does nothing for me). Breguet and Blancpain or more exclusive than JLC and the finish on the bottom of the line Breguet and Blancpain movements is higher than JLCs (hmm never seen a Type XX movement, could be wrong about Breguet). JLC, is a value brand in a way, sort of like Zenith.

I am not knocking JLC, certainly it is more respected than than the current incarnation Blancpain and probably Breguet as well, it's just the way they have chosen to position themselves in the market.

I was talking about their movements that go in their bottom of the line watches compared with BP and Breguets bottom of the line. When you get into the high-end, all bets are off. Obviously, these watches are over priced. Even JLC, but less so than the others.

I think even the most basic of movement 899 from JLC is a product of superb craftsmanship and attention to detail for a particular target segment. Having said that, the lowest priced men's offering from Blancpain retails $8400 and Breguet, $9500. This is comparing to the JLC Master Control at $5700.

Looking at all three of these movements, I really can't tell the finer of the 3 with maybe the Blancpain appearing just marginally finer on finishing?

However at $2700 to $3800 more respectively, this represents a significant premium so it's completely fair to assume you get less but on the other hand JLC offers such a high price/benefit ratio that puts the JLC ahead of the others.

I wouldn't call JLC a value brand either, simply a different economies of scale, now Frederique Constant is a value brand.

When it comes to price, they are all overpriced....but then again compared to what? I remember a conversation about Bremont being so over priced and with the same money you could go buy this or that...well you can BUT you wouldn't have a Bremont would you?

So while there are many watches that are expensive, few are overpriced unless there is a significant gap in price between comparable product offerings within the same product line within the same brand. Only then can you compare the features and benefits and conclude if it warrants a certain price.

Interesting question. I have owned several Blancpains including three perpetual calendar chronographs and found them to be amazing quality. I have owned a single JLC and never even considered a Breguet as they do not move me.

Swatch positions Breguet as their highest level watch with Blancpain on a close second. However, the movements are frequently shared. There have been complications which are identical between these two brands but just cased differently. Blancpain maybe a little more sporty? Breguet knownfor their engine turned dials whose provenance goes back to Abraham Louis himself.

JLC is sort of in the league of its own. Every movement is unique and custom designed manufacture movement. Many people think that this brand deserves to be at the very highest echelons for uniqueness and creativity.

If you were looking at the bottom end of any watches in these brands you are looking still at an amazing timepiece with superlative finish. Bottom end of any of these brands is better than most watches out there by far. Frederick Piguet is an amazing movement. And so is Lemania.

My only Blancpain allowing me to admire the movement is my Bathyscaphe, showing the 1315 movement. It is kind of a robust, sporty movement, but it is excellently finished. As is the rest of the watch, everything is absolutely first class, no way I can find something to complain about. That's just about enough for me, the only remaining question is: do I like the watch?

I love the design of Blancpain watches. I dislike the fact that the one I own has stopped working on 3 different occasions, requiring sending it away and paying anywhere from 750 to 1400 to get it working again. The only other watch I have had to send away to be serviced is the AP Royal Oak Offshore chrono, so these days I am wary of in-house movements. :-/ Give me a good re-purposed ETA... :-D

I love the design of Blancpain watches. I dislike the fact that the one I own has stopped working on 3 different occasions, requiring sending it away and paying anywhere from 750 to 1400 to get it working again. The only other watch I have had to send away to be serviced is the AP Royal Oak Offshore chrono, so these days I am wary of in-house movements. :-/ Give me a good re-purposed ETA... :-D

Which Blancpain do you have? What was the problem each time it stopped? When you sent it back for repair did you not get some kind of 1 or 2 year warranty?

Complete Calendar. Yes to every question. It breaks on 2-4 year intervals. As a rule, one of the complications stops, and it impacts one or more of the others. Right now, the moon phase push button seized, and nothing else works.

I love Blancpain as a brand. Their designs are beautiful, but I'd just stick with the non-complication designs.